SIR Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United's pursuit of Sunderland's David Bellion looks doomed with their transfer window target set to return home to France in the summer.

The Wearside club's chairman Bob Murray has attacked the Reds for their alleged `tapping up' of the player saying that United's treatment of the Black Cats was "shabby, despicable, disrespectful, arrogant and unprofessional" in their attempts to land the 20-year-old French forward.

United hit back in a statement denying wrongdoing and Fergie says, "We did things the right way. We tried to do a deal because his contract was up and we spoke to him in January, which is the appropriate time.

"But we are very unsure about the boy coming here now."

Bellion's agent Mike Morris has said, "David is very upset, but has to get on with it and he will be at Sunderland for another four months.

"He is out of contract in the summer and wants to return to France because he is confused about how English clubs do business."

Meanwhile, United are set to rip up their pitch again after tomorrows FA Cup match at Old Trafford against West Ham United.

The surface was only put down in mid-November but a damaging schedule of ten matches in two months has ruined the pitch again.

"This one should last," says the United boss. "We have home game against City on February 9 and then a European tie against Juventus on the 19th.

"By the time you get to March the weather is hopefully getting better and there is a bit of heat coming in the ground which will help you to the end of the season."